Sheppard welcomes Steering Committee Published March 19, 2012 By 2nd Lieutenant Sara Harper 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 80th Flying Training Wing is hosting the 63rd Steering Committee meeting for the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program March 19-23 at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. The ENJJPT mission is unique considering it is the only internationally manned and managed pilot training program in the world. Thirteen partnering NATO Nations participate in the pilot training program including Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. As a multi-national operation, the ENJJPT program is governed by the Steering Committee, a group made up of representatives from the 13 participating nations. The committee is responsible for the plan of operation, financial oversight of the program and approves all training policies. More than 50 representatives from partnering NATO nations have flown to Wichita Falls for the five-day Steering Committee meeting and will participate in discussions about the curriculum and details of the program. Each participating country in the program has a local country sponsor in Wichita Falls. These sponsors have volunteered to take in families from different countries to make them feel welcome in North Texas. During the first two evenings of this year's Steering Committee local country sponsors will host dinner for guests from their respective countries. The current Steering Committee Chairman, Royal Norwegian Air Force Brig. Gen. Morten Klever, will be turning the reins over to German Air Force Brig. Gen. Helmut Schuetz, as this year's committee meeting concludes. Each Chairman is elected by the Steering Committee members and typically serves for a two-year period. The Steering Committee meets twice a year; meetings alternate between Sheppard and one of the participating nations. The next committee meeting will be held in Greece this September.